KORONADAL CITY -- The city government has stepped up preparations for its annual Tree Growing Festival on June 29, aiming to plant around 70,000 trees in different parts of the city.
Augustus Bretaña, head of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, said Monday they are currently preparing the tree seedlings that will be planted during the festivity, which is now on its eighth year.
Bretaña said the local government purchased about 80 percent of the seedlings while the 20 percent were donated by private companies and non-government organizations including Phoenix Petroleum Philippines and the Dole Philippines-supported Mahintana Foundation Inc.
The planting sites, he said, are located in upland farm areas and idle lands within the city’s 27 barangays.
Bretaña said the enlistment of volunteers is ongoing at the city hall and in coordination with local schools, barangay councils, government offices and private establishments.
The city government signed up and mobilized thousands volunteers mostly composed of students, government and private workers and community stakeholders in the previous years.
Malacañang has already declared the June 29 festival as a special non-working day in the entire city through Proclamation No. 513 "to give residents full opportunity “to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.”
Launched in 2011, the city’s Tree Growing Festival highlights the local celebration of the International Environment Month observed every June. It also aims to support of the national government’s greening programs spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (PNA)
